The problem with so much of the ACA is that there's not going to be near enough going in to handle what's going out.

^^^^

Which is why the backbone of the legislation is going to fail, taking the whole system with it. All the ACA is a bandaid on the real problems of insurance, and unfortunately, we can't pay for those bandaids forever.

What's missing here is "why" should the ones who are now able to ride on their parents insurance until they are 26 sign up for individual insurance? In a way, the very persons they need to sign up are the ones who they gave a waiver to.

Plenty of the "young invincibles" parents don't have insurance.

Hence the phrasing "... the ones who are now able to ...". Those who aren't able to ride on their parents plans probably can't afford individual insurance on their own without government subsidies as it is, so they won't be the ones providing the needed funding the legislation is banking on.

What's missing here is "why" should the ones who are now able to ride on their parents insurance until they are 26 sign up for individual insurance? In a way, the very persons they need to sign up are the ones who they gave a waiver to.

Since "Santa Claus" is a part of the secular holiday of Christmas, I see no reason why any kid is restricted from receiving presents. Heck, some of my Jewish cousins celebrate the secular holiday of Christmas. They even put up a tree and hang stockings.

We had the memorial service for him last weekend, and it's amazing how one individual can touch the lives of so many. I counted more than 325 people in attendance. Simply amazing! He will be greatly missed.

From his obit:

"...he enlisted in the Army at 18, serving in Italy and Germany at end of WWII. His second tour was again in Germany in 1954 with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Division, Company D. He also did tours of duty in Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. He was awarded several decorations including the Legion of Merit. "

"... serving as a Chaplain with the Prince William County Police Department [starting in 1983]. He helped develop the chaplain program with the County Police and still went out on calls until just a few months before his death."

I'm currently at the hospital with one of my oldest and dearest friends. He's currently in the hospice section of the hospital and he doesn't have many days left. I ask, if you would, to give up a little prayer asking for my friend to be comfortable until the end. He has some sort of fibrous lung issue, so it is very difficult for him to breathe, let alone talk. At his age and health, there is little that the doctors can do beyond letting nature run its course.

As they say, it's darkest before the dawn. I'm glad to hear things are finally going your way, Fezzy. I hope the trend maintains, and you have a great future waiting for you. Take care of yourself, and don't forget to drop in at some point in the future to for another positive update!

He's not the governor or a state official though. He's explicitly a part of the decision making body that will allocate the money. I don't see what the issue is here, at least as far as his residency is concerned. Maybe his general philosophy is wrong, but it would seem more petty to me if he abandoned the principle as soon as he was the one who needed the money.

I'm inclined to agree. He's looking for a budget off-set. Nothing wrong with that. If you find out that you need to replace your car (for example), and it was going to cost $100 more per month than your current auto loan, you might be inclined to look for ways to save $100/month in other areas before taking it out of your savings account. It's a long-term, financially-practical approach.

The Philippines are next because a) I speak Tagalog (though I'm getting rusty), b) the Northern-half (especially Luzon) is very "Americanized", c) all the lovely lovely ladies, and d) my retirment money will allow me to live like a king out there.

How does it happen that you speak Tagalog? Were you 'in the service' there?

I grew up with, worked with, and have been friends with Filipino's all my life. Many of them were aboard the various ships I've sailed on.

Edison thought that cement was going to be used for many applications, not just for roads, dams, walls, and so on. He did build some houses made out of cement, but at the time, they weren't popular. His idea of using cement to build "every day" objects like furniture failed to gain any interest, in part because they were too heavy to move, and also because they would crack.